NEEL'S TWIN BROTHER

"Malinda! Sh... she's back! Oh no, I have to inform the king right away. But how will I send him a message when he doesn't know that I possess powers. Think Neel, think!

I can't go back home without Araxie. I know Tia would get broken and the king as well.

What do I do?"he was wondering when Tia's feather dropped from his bag which reminded him that he could maybe talk to Tia through that feather. Perhaps the message would reach the king somehow.

Picking it up, Neel whispered softly and was surprised when it flew away in the air just like how he asked it to.

Wait! Would the message reach Tia! He hoped it would but still he couldn't stop worrying since he knew that no matter what, the king would never understand Tia and the message he just sent.

He just hoped for the miracle.

Leaving everything before, Neel continued searching for Araxie and finally he found her hanging upside down from a witch's tree.

Breathing with little relief, he jumped so high to catch her up but unfortunately he missed and before he knew it, he was in the pit. "She planned everything brilliantly."he thought after finding himself in the pit from where he was watching Araxie.

Meanwhile, Tia was trying so hard to inform the king about the message that she just got but Mr Beryl could hardly notice that she was even telling him something until Trion showed up hoping to find a grand celebration taking place but was left shocked after what Tia explained to him. He couldn't help it but to remove cotton from his face before he broke into tears.

"How... how did this happen father. Who's Malinda?"

"I'm sorry son. But don't worry Neel and I are going to find her and we'll bring her back to you. Just have faith my child."

"Tell me who's this Malinda that has dared to kidnap my Araxie."

"Malinda? I don't understand. How's Malinda connected to all this?"

"Do you know her?"

"Yes. Well, she that woman the committee members chose for me the other day."

"I swear I won't spare this woman. I will make sure to burn her alive."

"Malinda is back! No! This isn't true."the king could barely swallow.

"But i.... I've received a message from Neel that Martha is Malinda. He also said that she's come for revenge."

"Revenge. Malinda shouldn't have done this! How dare she get you and Araxie into all this! But wait, where's Neel?"

"He's gone to look for Araxie. I'm also going father. My heart is telling me that my wife is in danger. She needs me."

"I'm coming with you son."

"No father. You have to stay here. I'm going to inform the guards to keep a close eye.

It's not safe outside father."Trion said.

"No son. My daughter-in-law is missing and it's all my fault. I failed to take good care of her and maybe that's why all this has happened."

"Don't blame yourself Dad. It's not your fault and if it's anyone's fault, then it's Malinda's and she'll have to pay a huge price for messing around my wife!"

"You're sounding like a stepson... hahaha..."the king pointed.

"I'm sorry about that father but I don't think that woman deserves my mercy at all. How dare she kidnap my only happiness!"he was cursing between clenched teeth.

A while ago Trion's magic wasn't working because of the ritual they were going as he was going to share mermaidal powers with that girl, Araxie but now that he's unveiled his face, his magic was all back which means Araxie could use her bead but unfortunately she wasn't informed.

Trying all he could, Neel failed to get out of the pit despite him possessing powers.

Well, it wasn't an ordinary pit, it was magically dug.

He could've easily got out of it since it was made by Malinda herself but no. She wasn't the one who made it instead it was dug by someone related to Neel by blood, Andie.

Yes, Andie was Neel's twin brother who was sold the moment they were born. It was their father who sold him because he wanted money to cater for the rest of the family members. He couldn't take both of them home because he knew he wouldn't be able to take care of them and be able to provide all their needs.

He grew up in the situations where he was nothing like a slave in the foreign land.

Thanks to Malinda who knew everything about their past because she found him at a point where he was going to end his life as he thought he had nothing to lose.

It was then when she bought him from his master and brought him back.

She couldn't waste a minute to bad mouth about the king and Neel because she knew he was the only one who would help her take her revenge on those people.

She wanted to create such strong enemity within this man on his brother Neel since he was among those who oust her from the palace few years ago.

"Get me out of here please. I'm suffocating in here."he shouted for mercy but no one was willing to listen.

He was wandering what to do before he realized that the pit wasn't there anymore. He was standing on the flat ground and in front of him stood a man who was facing away. What shocked him was the he was wearing the same clothes he was in.

"Hey. Who are you?"Neel asked and before he knew it, he was also hanging upside down just like Araxie.

He couldn't believe how super powerful that man because he just hanged him just with a snap of his fingers.

"Don't worry dear. I'm going to save you no matter what."Neel said before he received the biggest shock of his life when the man turned around and showed him his face.

He looked exactly like him and everyone else would've believed that he was indeed him.

"I don't believe this! How's this possible?"he wanted to pretend like he wasn't shocked but his face said it all.

"Shocked, right?"the man asked, raising his brow just like a nigga.

He didn't only look like him but also.... his voice was the same as his!

"Oh my God! Is this Malinda I knew sometime back or someone else. How did she transform into a man and moreso...why chose to look like me?"Neel was asking himself when Malinda landed at the same place and immediately laughed on seeing the two of them hanging.

"Good job son. I'm proud of you. Wow, such a brilliant torture. I'm sure they're enjoying it, right Neel?"she was mocking them.

"Andie Dear, you have to remove that cotton from this girl's face and make sure she sees you first. I feel like I should make her my daughter-in-law because it's like some people are willing to die just to make her theirs. Let's be the ones to discover the secret in her, what do you think."Malinda told the man, Andie.

"Hmmmm. I must admit you love me so much mother. Well, that's a brilliant idea."

"Okay then child. Go remove the cotton."

"I'm afraid she might not match my explanations.

I mean I've never seen her before. What if she's not hot and beautiful?"

"Trust me Andie. I know this girl so well. She's very beautiful."

"Malinda has a son! But how? He can't be her son. I mean he's almost her age and looks like he's my age-mate. But I don't get it... how did he come to resemble me?"Neel breathed in wonders.

As Andie was uncovering this damsel, Araxie, she accidentally looked in Neel's direction hence seeing him first and just like that, she instantly fell in love with him since she wasn't herself at the moment. She was still intoxicated by the venom from Trion's bite.

After looking at Neel, Araxie's magic became active again. But this time, she felt so different.

Yes, it was bound to happen since she saw a different creature instead of a merman who bit her. Her eyes had consumed some of Neel's powers which made her a total complicated creature now!

She was half human, mermaid and a witch as well. So complicated!

On sensing that some people were coming over, they quickly untied them.

Malinda couldn't wait but to multiple herself and created another woman who looked exactly as her, just with a single whistle. It wasn't long before one of them changed her looks.

Now the one who looked like Malinda tied herself while Andie tied his brother, Neel.

In the meantime Trion and his father arrived at the scene, very determined to destroy Malinda and her wickedness for good.

They fell confused as they failed to differentiate between the two twins who were both claiming to be Neel.

ANDIE ~POV.

"Actually Sir, I'm the real Neel. Yes... when I got here, I found that man Andie and Malinda mistreating Araxie and I couldn't bare it but to fight with all my strength and luckily I managed to defeat them and tied them."

"Father. A... Araxie's eyes are..."

"Sorry son. I've seen it as well. And it means she's in love with someone whom she looked at first when her eyes fell open."the king pointed.

"No!!! This can't happen. My Araxie can't love someone else."he couldn't bring himself to accept it but yes...it was already happening because when he went very close to her, he was shocked when she asked him like, " Who are you. I can see you're smiling at me like you know me."

That was enough proof for Trion to tell that his father was right and his Araxie...she wasn't remembering him at all.

Wait! Would things remain like that or there was a way out? Trion hoped they could find a way out as soon as possible because he couldn't stand what he was feeling inside about the situation.

MALINDA ~ POV.

"I was going my way when I saw this man tied up and decided to untie him just like any other people would've done. I thought he'd leave afterwards but he didn't. He explained everything to me and that's why I decided to help him and fight these people. Thankfully we came out victorious.

I think I'll take your leave now."

"No no ma'am. I mean to say that you can't just leave after all you've done for me. I'm so grateful that you've saved my Neel and my daughter-in-law although destiny is taking another turn.

Let's go home and have dinner together, how do you see it?"the king told the woman.

"I'm Neel Sir. They're both lying to you please believe me."that's all Neel said but no body seemed to listen to what he had to say.

Just like how Malinda wanted it, she (disguised) was taken along with the king back to the palace from where she was chased just like a mere mosquito!

Being in love with Neel, Araxie refused to go back to the palace and this forced Trion to stay behind with the three of them, Neel whom he thought was Andie, the other woman whom he believed was Malinda and his precious Araxie who wasn't able to recall anything about him.

"Why didn't you go sir? I mean, your family has left you behind and it looks like you aren't bothered. Did you stay back for a good reason or you want to torture my boyfriend like how that woman Malinda did? I promise I won't spare you if that's what you're intending to do. I won't let you lay a hand on my Neel or do anything bad to him."Araxie was shouting at him.

All this was getting Trion boil with anger inside not that her words were hurting no, it was because she was calling someone else her boyfriend.

"What did you just say. You called him Neel. I mean are you crazy that you don't know your boyfriend's name. I'm surprised.... really surprised. So you're ready to box me up over someone that you actually don't know his name? Wow ma'am wow..."

"What do you mean by that. This man's name is Neel."

"You must be crazy. This man is Andie and not Neel. I think you're being fooled."

"Crazy you said. Oh well...it seems you're the crazy one here. Where were you when they were taking Andie. Neel tried to tell you but no one listened to him."

"Wait. Are you being serious?" It looked like Trion was taking this girl's words for fun and maybe he was starting to believe her.

"Is what she's saying true Sir? Ara you Neel or Andie. Tell me please."he was asking Neel who was still tied up with a burning hot chain.

Neel was secretly in love with this girl and her loving him back was his golden opportunity to confess his love to her.

Maybe he should lie that he's Andie.

He was still looking for what to say when the other woman who looked like Malinda just melted just like snow when exposed to sunshine.

"Did you see that? All this was made up. Your family has taken Malinda and her son, Andie home. They have fooled y'all."

All along Neel wasn't sure if that woman was actually Malinda or her illusion but after it had melted away, he knew Malinda was actually the other woman who just went along with the king.

"Oh no, the king is in danger. Find a way to untie me Trion. I have a feeling that my king is in danger. He needs us now. Who knows what those evil people are doing to him now."

"So... you're indeed Neel?"Trion couldn't believe it but to ask in realization.

"Yes highness. I'm Neel."

"What! How on Earth did they manage to fool us like this? We need to save father and everyone at the palace."

Wondering how to untie Neel, Trion thought of Tia. Yes, she would be of help.

Summoning her over, Tia quickly blew out water which put the fire down and cooled the chain and just like that, Neel was able to put it off.